Engaging with the political mood

MANY longstanding Socialist Worker supporters are finding that Socialist Worker fits the political mood in their workplace more than ever before.

Mario is a college worker in south London and was a political refugee from Chile in the 1970s. “Selling Socialist Worker is easier than ever—as long as you engage with people politically,” he says.

“I work in Lambeth College and I have built my paper sale up to 12 a week. I began to talk politics with my fellow workers—about the war, our strikes, racism and any issue that took priority. One of my colleagues joined Respect as a result of me selling the paper. There is a crisis in Labour and people are disillusioned. But the idea of Labour as a party of workers is still in many people’s head. Socialist Worker is a tool to challenge that idea.”

Crucial role the paper can play

“THERE HAS to be a wide readership of Socialist Worker for the future of struggle,” adds Mario. “It plays a crucial role in clarifying ideas. Socialist Worker is vital if you want to have influence in the organised working class movement and the political radicalisation in society. When the class struggle exploded in Chile there wasn’t a revolutionary paper that clarified tactics and strategy for our class. There wasn’t a revolutionary party either.

“At the moment it is very exciting. I have been a member of the Socialist Workers Party for donkey’s years. I couldn’t sell Socialist Worker easily, but I’m now able to because of the political situation.”

Making an impact in Manchester DWP

SOCIALIST WORKER had a big impact in a Department for Work and Pensions office in Manchester last week.

Rob says, “I have only just started working in the office and only just joined the PCS union. Socialist Worker supporters have been selling outside the office regularly. On Thursday of last week I put a Socialist Worker leaflet up about the strikes against low pay on 29 and 30 July. Later in the day one of my colleagues got up from his desk and went round the office showing everyone his copy of Socialist Worker. He then went into the lunch room and left the paper in there. People were reading it all afternoon and talking about the paper and the strike.”